I noticed most of my dear friends were right there while I was going through the process of divorcing but not all ! Someone who I have known since I was 15 hasn’t been in touch to see how I was doing – which surprised me but life is all about managing the hands you are dealt […]
I’ve just seen that Measles cases in England and Wales have risen to the highest annual total for 18 years, says the Health Protection Agency. In the 1990s, experts thought they were close to eliminating measles for good. But now the World Health Organization (WHO) has put back its target date for getting rid of […]
I see smacking is in the news again today with Justice Secretary Chris Grayling saying that he smacked his own children when they were young and has defended the right of parents to smack. The Conservative minister, who has two grown-up children, told the Mail on Sunday smacking young children sometimes “sends a message”. He […]
Well I suppose I’m going through it as my kids are 20 and 18 but a new study suggests that “Empty nest syndrome” is becoming a thing of the past as increasing numbers of households have three generations living under the same roof. For many couples in late middle age the challenge is not how […]
There are big changes coming in childcare and my great friend Laura Henry is an early years expert. Here is her recent blog to help you understand what the changes may mean to your family. Dear Parents I am a parent of two boys and an early years specialist and have worked within the early years […]
I’m delighted to say that I’ve been invited once again to be a Judge for The MAD Blog Awards. The MADs 2013 is the fourth annual Mum and Dad Blog Awards, in association with Parentdish.co.uk, and they are the UK’s biggest and most exciting awards for parent blogs. This year, more than 100,000 nominations and […]
The Importance Of Teaching Your Kids TOLERANCE I was in a school on Friday and the assembly was incredibly moving as it inspired awe, wonder, reverence and dignity. It was about teaching the children about tolerance and learning from the past, and it was based around Holocaust Memorial Day. The teacher’s father had been […]
Parents should snoop on their child’s texts and social media messages, David Cameron’s new advisor on childhood has claimed – but what do YOU think ? How do you monitor your child’s social media activity and keep an eye on what they’re saying, and who they are saying it to, and what they are posting […]
How can you help kids get a good start? In this heartfelt and personal talk, Colin Powell, the former U.S. Secretary of State, asks parents, friends and relatives to support children from before they even get to primary school, through community and a strong sense of responsibility. (Filmed at TEDxMidAtlantic.) What structures do you […]
I was chatting on LBC Radio today about a new study of families in the United States and China that shows that most parents tell lies to their children as a tactic to change their behaviour! The most frequent example was parents threatening to leave children alone in public unless they behaved. Persuasion ranged from […]
Here’s my latest podcast to download http://parentingexpert.podbean.com/2013/01/19/raising-teenage-boys-positively-and-easily/
I read with concern that whooping cough is on track to become the most severe preventable epidemic in over a half century, with 18 deaths and around 41,000 cases already reported in the US in 2012. One of the causes of this epidemic stems from the decline in adequate and timely vaccine protection. “Vaccinations are […]
Are your kids out in the snow throwing snowballs, climbing trees and having fun – or are they stuck inside on their iPad and watching hours of TV? Prof Tanya Byron said that children’s natural development was being stunted after being refused the chance to play outside, banned from throwing snowballs and prevented from walking […]
I picked up a copy of the excellent “Digital Parenting” Magazine from Vodafone yesterday – you can read really helpful articles and “How To” Guides on all things technical from Parental Controls on XBox 360, to setting up Blackberry Parental Controls, to teaching you how to put YouTube on Safety Mode.
It’s tough being a Mum – as this survey shows. Eight out of 10 full time mothers spend their week on autopilot A monotonous daily routine coupled with the demands of children and housework are to blame One in four mothers are forced to rely on social networking sites for company Eight out of ten […]
A Practical Guide
A calm, practical starter guide from Sue Atkins to help you handle smartphones, social media, gaming, sleep and online pressure — without rows or panic.
Download the free scripts and tips here.
